Having trouble getting up to temp

[kyngfish]

Hi all,

Since late last year my car went from Daily Driver to weekend driver. I try to take her out once a week and get her up to temperature and make sure things are moving smoothly.

Lately it's been colder for Miami and I'm having trouble getting her up to temp. Last night it was in the 50s, and it took nearly an hour of driving (it was also slightly wet), to get her up to the 194 hash, and once I hit the highway, the needle would drop down to slightly below the hash or barely touching it. Return lines were cold and barely got warm until almost 45 minutes.

For the record, short of sitting in traffic for extended periods in the heat, my car almost never runs hot, if anything it runs slightly cool. Even in the warm weather, rain will often knock the temp to just below or just touching the 194 hash - DRACO recommended I get an IR thermometer, which I've ordered.

Since my weekly drives are also about letting her stretch her legs a bit, I am wondering if I should be worried or checking something as I don't want to rev her hard when she is too cold.

[trond]

I have similar problem. Today after about an hour engine temperature was 135F. 40F temperature outside

[ClickClickBoom]

The engine mounted thermostat keeps the oil where it wants it, unless it is bad then replace. My 3.2 DD usually never gets above 185F, unless boogieing uphill. I do have the fender cooler and have checked the oil system operation with an IR thermometer.

[trond]

I did replace the engine mounted thermostate and no difference. I checked temperature with IR thermometer. A cold running engine does sound like an always open thermostat

Question; there is only ONE seal (39.2 mm x 3 mm o-ring) on the thermostat cartridge, close to the top ? What prevents oil bypassing the thermostat cartridge ?